Maru Maki Sushi
745 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802
- Go – Get up and get Grubbin!
- Sane – Price is right and perfectly reasonable for what you get!
Since the karate kid nothing soo awesome or soo tasty / soo ninja than Maru Maki Sushi Bar has stolen my imagination for all things raw fish and best of all more. Situated on a one way street near downtown Long Beach, Maru Maki sits in the shadow of the world famous Roscoe’s chicken and waffle house. On the corner of Broadway and Los Alimitos in a free standing building that appears to be a converted donuts shop is Long beaches best kept secret. Keep it that way, its not that big inside.
All you can eat sushi has been at war with non all you can eat. Nordstrom quality, Walmart prices, how can that be possible! Before I write the pen is blue on my forehead, i do agree everyone knows A La Cart sushi taste much better than all you can eat sushi’s that’s FACT. But who wants to spend $80 bucks on raw fish tapas and still feel hungry afterwards. F$#@ that. Hang on to your 7 for all man kind belts you hipsters because I am sure this is going to become the new standard in the sushi world.
ALL you can eat $3 SUSHI! All rolls/hand rolls/sashimi/nigir sushi/hot plates/appetizers ect. Its all $3! The catch. There is a seating fee of $5 bucks at lunch or $8 bucks at dinner. No big deal, this is a super value. This actually works! The restaurant does not have to cut corners to make your sushi pieces thinner and thinner. Happiness is those who want to eat more can do so and those who want to eat less can also do so. I’ve walked out with a $15 bill and a $50 bill, but both ways completely pleased!
So now that I’ve hyped this place up enough lets bring it back down to orbit. Inside is tiny. There are no more than 7 tables and 1 full length sushi bar. The inside though feels kinda Japanese its honestly more of a dive. There is a gigantic 6 foot tall 3 foot wide AC unit right in the corner of the dinning room really identifying that this place is more about sense than sensibility.
A small TV hangs above the back entrance and is usually playing soccer. (Random). All the TV cords and connections are visible inline with the ghetto feel. The menus though really functional and great pictures of items are very worn and feel gross to hold. Along the window sills is a cake storm of dust and dead or alive flies.
This is one of the most interesting service oriented restaurants. Each time I go in its a little bit different. Id go out on a limb and say its the best worse service restaurant I’ve ever witnessed. Its not proactive and attentive, rather the restaurant is soo small that the waitress, bus-boy or manager is constantly rubbing elbows by passing you by the narrow pathways you can just holla out what you need and it gets done. Ghastly unconventional I love it because Its fast and to the point and i am dialed into the instant satisfactions. What would be classified as rude else where completely works here, wax on brothers.
Hey Gandolf, what about the food?
Yes the $3 dollar sushi menu. The sushi (nigri) pieces come out thick, fresh, flavorful and prepared correctly. Garnished as needed, a slice of lemon under each Salmon, diced green onions on the mackerel, short cuts are forgotten here / WAX OFF.
The Philadelphia roll, one of my favorites (by acquired taste) is blissfully simple. A healthy slice of Cream Cheese, avocado and salmon swim with the appropriate pillow of white rice. Soak up the bath tub of soy sauce before making the deposit on the tongue. I ordered it twice!
The Titanic Roll does not sink to the bottom of the ocean here, It rises up with a unforgettable portion of spicy tuna dressed with sweet sauce on top of a torpedo shrimp tempura. From the initial bite a crunch down on the pallet is followed by a electric eel of shock from the spicy tuna. Buckle in coming down the top of the roller coaster. Hang on to flavor city ballot, because your about to be mayor.
One of my favorites the Mackerel does not disappoint. A decent portion with good texture, dryness (slimy fish), and overwhelming ocean floor flavor is embed in the Mackerel. Only recommended for advance sushi eaters and ninja turtles.
Order your self another saki, because the best part is coming. When ordering like Bob Barker I like to eat multiple kinds of food instead of a giant portion of the same thing. On the $3 menu are hot kitchen items. Bugogi, teriyaki chicken, steak, and more! I ordered the steak cooked medium. A tiny bit chewy and fatty but packed flavor and purpose was delivered. Finding this new dimension to enhancing your overall experience in sushi meals. Take all the cheat codes and use them my friend.
Happy to say that this is one of my all time favorite sushi restaurants. I’ve been to 5 star sushi restaurants in Beverly Hills and dumps in south central. Overall the value, flavor and hole in the wall charm stack enough points to karate punch it into a wonderful and memorable experience.
Ikura (Salmon Roe)
Octopus Nigri
Volcano Roll
Spider Roll (soft-shell crab)
Eating is not merely a material pleasure. Eating well gives a spectacular joy to life and contributes immensely to goodwill and happy companionship. It is of great importance to the morale.
-Elsa Schiaparelli
WANDERGRUB 